Adhesive strip delivering means



Dec. 15, 1942. I R. w, HOITT 2,305,424

ADHESIVE STRIP DELIVERING MEANS Filed Aug. 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 b m, ,F W

Dec. 15, 1942. w, OIT 2,305,424

ADHESIVE STRIP DELIVERING MEANS Filed Aug. 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N am Invenio?" Boberi K 1103135 Patented Dec. 15, 1942 ADHESIVE STRI? DELIVERINGMEANS. a Robert W. Hoitt; Nashua, N. 11.}ja g o -t fj Nashua Gummed and Coated Paper Company,"

u e efian i Me e e afise s I "taxman A 's. 4 Se ia NLy present invention relates tofidevices and apparatus for dispensing strip material,- especially dry-gummed paper and like strips and tapes, for package. sealing wrapping, binding and like purposes. More particularly the invention aims to provide novel means of simple and easily manipulated form whereby desired lengths of the strip material are made available to the operator with its gummed face moistened throughout, moistened only at selected areas such 1 0 as an end of the particular strip length, or with no moistening, atithe operators option.

. In the accompanying drawings illustrating by Way of example certain embodiments of the invention: Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the forward and central portions of a strip serving or tape dispensing machine equipped withselective or plural-way moistening means inaccordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 shows said means of Fig. 1 in topplan, with associated parts 'of the machine in horizontal section; 1

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section corresponding to a portion f0 Fig. 1 with the moistening control and delivery means in a different adjusted position. for non-continuous moistening; v

Fig.4 is a vertical cross-section as upon the line P4 of Fig. 2 :and with the selective positioning control disposed as in Fig. 3;

Figs. 5, 6 and. 7, corresponding respectively to portions of Figs. 2, 1 and 3, illustrate a modified form of the invention; and

Figs. 8,. 9 and 10, being similarviews as 5 to 7, represent a further modification.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1 to 4, I have there shown sufficiently for present purposes a tape dispensing or strip serving machine or device including the housing having side frames I I, II. The rear portion of they housing is adapted to support a supply of the gummed tape or strip material, generally in roll form, as indicated at S at-the right in Fig. 1. From thesupply S the tape T is advanced or conducted forwardly past suitable guides such as the roller l2 and flooring or underguide I3, herein by'and between upper and lower cooperating feed rolls l4 and I5. Thence the tape is moved or fed'between upper 'Figs.

and lower guide members l6 and I! to and past 50 suitable severing means such as the cooperative movable and-fixed blades indicated partially diagrammatically at l8 and I9 respectively. Beyond the severing means, in the forward direction thatis, toward'the delivery endot the ma ine. -.vt-h, i-; a e .11 5 mov r; -ih r:-: m ch n mzt eide crib diwhe eby 'i uided and deliv r d: n a eo e Tm ne ;or n n-moistened,-;0rselective m9istened conditions at the election-0f the operator. 7 It will be understood that the-tape dispenser or. strip's'erver asshown in Fig. -1 to illustrate theinvention isintended-as typical of machines and-devices of this general class, 'and'that my invention is adapted for use in conjunction with any -ofthe various types of such apparatus; in- ;cluding the,manualgthesemiautomatic and the full-automatic forms. Likewise, the-meansfor feeding and severing the tape and also the particular. character of moistureapplicator maybe ofany of the known or prefer-redtypes. including the manual? draft, form-, the roll; feed-, one form ofwhich is shown-" in Fig. 1 and; other-feed arrang,ements, bo th -of the character referred. to 'by-some 'as a push -feed, implying feeding engagement of the tape rearwardly-ofother tape-contactingelements of the=.machine, and of other structural-designs," while the moistener element proper may-be of the capillary vor wick type such as the inverted 'brush 'device'here shown 'byway of exampleortheroller or other forms.

Referring again to Figrl, the machine is furnished withareservoir or tank for the moisture supply, such tank being'removableor otherwise and being herein-indicated as-a whole by the numera1,-20.*- The moistenerelement proper or applicator-herein comprises one or more inverted brushes- 2:|,-' -22 qremovably set in the tank 20 in position to havemoisteningrcontact. at; the desired times-with the under face of the tape-T.

The brushor brushes may be supported in any suitable manner or positioned in the reservoir, as by means of the cross members 24, 25. The two brushes-as illustrated .cons-tituteinefiect a .singlemeans .or element for applying and distributing over .theunder .face of the tapethe proper quantity ofmoistureto render the latter adhesiver In advanceuof 'the severing means l8, is the tape iscOnducted across an underguideor flooring plate 26 up .to a. pointclosely adjacent the moistener.:. In cooperative relation to the underguide 26; andthe moistening means 2|, 22-1 provide plural-way feedingand guiding means herein inthe form of an assembly unit. As bestseen in Fig. 2 there is-demountably secured, as by screws 21, 28, atthe inner face of each side frame .Hr-asuppgarting strip 29 and 30 respectively, to the --lowerpprtions oij which the, .underguide 2.6 nay-wbe integrally. or otherwise attached. Said 30 previously mentioned, the top plate 33 having capacity for upward swinging about the axis of its lateral bosses 35, 36. It is normally held in vertically spaced relation above the underguide 25 as by feet 39 at its under face; see Fig. 4.

Moistening of the tape, with the parts positioned as in Fig. 1, is effected by the cooperative action of the capillary moistener element 2|, 22

and an opposed, overlying tape-depressing guide or presser illustrated in the form of a roll '40 having circumferential ribsor corrugations 4|. This roll is adapted to float by gravity, that is, of its own weight, upon the upper face of the tape, causing the latter to have moistening contact with the brushes 2|, 22 as it passes across between them and the roll. I

As apparent in Fig. 1, the roll 40 is freely rotatable on a shaft or pin 42 of a diameter sufficiently less than the central bore 43 through the roll as to afford the latter free bodily movement relative to its locating pin 42, especially vertically, providing for it the floating action above mentioned.

Refer-ring now to Fig. 2, the roll 40 is confined, within the limits of the floating or bodily shifting action described, by its pin 42, the opposite ends of which are demountably received in the corresponding side members 44 of a yoke like selectively positionable presser-carrier or roll-holding plate 45. Said pin 42 may be held longitudinally as by a cotter 48 at each end.

Said side members 44 'of the presser-carrier 45 extend rearwardly to the back portion of the pivoted top guide 33 and are themselves there pivotally connected to said top guide, conveniently on an axis in line with the top guide pivot, as by means of screws 41, 41. Thus the pressercarrier 45 has capacity for vertical movement relative to the top guide 33, herein pivotally at 41, 41, while said two elements together may be lifted and returned, for inspection and like purposes, by reason of the pivotal connections 35 to 38 between the top guide and the machine frame and supporting strips 29, 30 thereon.

Behind the floating roll 40, which rides in a free space between the carrier arms 44, the latter carry a crosspiece 48 extending transversely between them, in front of their pivotal axis at 41. Said crosspiece has a central vertical aperture to receive an upright post 49 fixed on the top guide plate 33, said aperture in the crosspiece being sufficiently larger than the diameter of the post as to permit pivotal shifting movement of the roll-carrier 45 relative to'said top guide 33 without binding against the post. A'coil spring 59 ,interposes the top guide and the roll-carrier, said spring surrounding and held in place by the post 49 and bearing between the upper face of the top guide and a washer 5! on the post. The spring is partially housed in a recess .52 at the under face of the crosspiece 48, said washer bearing against the topwall of said recess.

' The described spring means 50 thus urges the roll-carrier upwardly tending toshift it from its down or active moistening position as in Fig. 1

to its raised and inactive or non-moistening position as in Fig. 3. In addition, meansis herein provided for variably positioning and retaining said carrier element and its presser roll selectively in either of said positions, and desirably, as illustrated, in such manner that when the roll is in its raised or inactive position of Fig. 3 the operator may at any instant depress it to effect moistening of the then underlying portion of tape.

For this purpose I provide, in the example of Figs. 1 to 4, a manual roll-setting element or position controller, here in the form of a cam depressor or cam knob 55, having a knurled manipulating portion 58 and an under cam portion 51. The under face of the latter is formed with two diametral depressions or grooves 53 and 58 at right angles to each other. One groove, 58, seen in Figs. 1 and 4 (but in different positions of the roll) being relatively shallow, to hold the carrier and roll in lowered position as in Fig. 1 and the other groove, 59, being relatively deeper, to permit the roll to raise to a corresponding extent, into non-moistening position as in Fig. 3.

Th adjusting knob or roll-setting cam has a central aperture whereby it is freelyreceived on the upper end of the post 49 with capacity for turning on the latter, manually at the will of the operator. It is held in place vertically, as a stop for the upward movement of the roll-carrier, as by mean of a cotter-pin 49a extending through the post, above the knob; see Fig. 2.

On the top face of the crosspiece 48 of the rollcarrier is a knob-positioning or stopformation 68, herein in the form of a rib, in the vertical plane of the post 43 and interruptedby the aperture in the crosspiece through which the post extends. Said formation cooperates with the grooves or cam depressions 58, 59 of the knob 55 in the respective position of the latter. It will be notedzthat the side walls of said grooves are inclined, whereby in turning the cam knob in either direction, to shift the roll 40 from one to the other position, the knob will automatically abnormally depress or cam down the roll-carrier 45, sufliciently to clear the particular groove from the positioning formation 50. The knob, in further turning, then rides on the intermediate nongrooved portion of its under face, thereby temporarily continuing to hold down the carrier beyond its normal moistening position, until the other groove comes opposite said formation 80. Under the action of the spring means 50 the rollcarrier thereupon automatically shifts position, lifting as permitted by the reception of the rib formation 68 in the then opposite groove58 or It will be understood that when the shallower groove or cam slot 58 lines with the rib 60, the latter and consequently the entire roll-carrier and the roll 40 are held at a lower level, with the roll in cooperative moistening relation with the moistening brush element 2|, 22. For such setting of the roll the control knob or cam 55 need not have a special rib-receiving groove'such as 58; in other words, but two positioning or ribengaging levels at the under face of the knob are neded, oneat a relatively high level, such as the upper wall of the herein deeper groove 59, with the ungrooved flat bottom face of the knob serving as the other rib-engaging and positioning level, for the active moistening setting as in Fig. 1. But by the provision of a second and relatively shallower groove, such as groove 58, thus giving in effect a third or intermediat level, here calculated to 'afiord; the pro-per moistening position for-the tolllu relative to the moistening elemerit-31, 22, the knob and roll-carrier are autodisplacement, said groove being of suflicient depth to serve that purpose and to keep the knob from rotative movement and maintaining interengagement of the rib 60 in saidfgroove, until such time a's'the operator'deliberately turns the knob to shift the roll setting.

A 'two w'ay" or plural-setting moistening unit or assembly as disclosed gives any machine equipped with it the additional capacity of not only moistening the full length of the dispensed strip or 'tape, as customary, butalso, when desired, of delivering uninoi'stened lengths oftape, with or without moistening at or near the trailing end or at some other less-than-totalarea. Under such nae -ppemnon, the roll-carrier is set in itsraised or open position as in Figs. 3-and 4, If then it is desired to moisten say the last "few inches, more or less, of the strip, the operator has b utto apply a slight hand pressure on the roll-carrier, depressing the roll to'contact the tape with the moistener whereupon the final tape portion is moistened as it is withdrawn. In a similar manner any'intermediateor other'sec- 'tion of the tape may be moistened, or allowed to come out dry. It' will be noted that the front portion of theroll-carrier is made conveniently availableto'the opera'tors hand and is formed as a finger-piece, platen or manual engaging member, including the web 45a at its fore end extending across between the carrier or platen side arms 44 and forming with the front rim or bead 451) a convenient and comforming grip or finger-receiving manual operating piece.

This selective moistening principle has been found of great advantage in numerous instances, in connection with packaging, wrapping and the like, especially where a length of tape is to be applied as a band about a package or article, for example, in bakeries, for applying tape bands about wrapped loaves of bread, and in laundries, for banding shirts and other laundered articles, as well as in stores, shipping rooms and many other locations. Such tape bands may be secured only to themselves, as by moistening only the last end of the tape as herein provided for, or may be adhesively secured to the underlying wrapper or the like, by moistening other portions of the tape, also as herein contemplated. All such uses are in addition to the regular or full-length moistening of the tape, as accomplished with a setting as in Fig. 1.

It will be noted that but a quarter-turn of the platen-adjusting knob 55 is required to convert the mechanism as here disclosed from one setup to the other, in each of which the roll 40 receives a definite predetermined position.

Turning now to Figs. 5 to '7, in the modified structure there shown corresponding parts are similarly numbered as in the preceding figures, and any parts not specifically referred to may be the same as in said earlier figures. In this instance the platen or carrier 45 for the roll 4!! likewise is adjustable as between positions of fulllength moistening, as in Fig. 6, and optionally r manually-selected moistening as in Fig. 7.

But in lieu of a positive or cam-controlled setting of the platen as between one and other preselected positions I provide for variable positioning of the roll 40, through diiferent degrees of opening, as found desirable in some instances.

Cal

Accordingly the cross member 48' of the rollcarrier platen is formed as a horizontal fiange through which the post 49 extends, with room for the slight angular shifting of the platen relative to it. The upper portion of saidpost is threaded to receive a positioning nut 63, above which maybe placed a lock nut 64. By back ing off the nuts from the closed or full-length moistening position of Fig. 6 the platen may be opened-away from the moistening means 2|, 22, to the desired and'variable extent, thus affording a wide range of adjustment.

In the forms of Figs. 8 to 10 variablesetting for the roll platen, through selected degrees of opening, also is afiorded. Here the carrier or platenis pivoted at a more forward point, relatively near the roll 40, as by the screws 41", 41 extending through the lateral flanges 33a, 33a of the top guide plate 33. The side arms 44, M of the roll-carrier extend back beyond said pivot point and. are formed with bosses 66, GT tapped to receive adjusting screws 68, 69 respectively. These latter act as positioning stops, by'abutment of their lower ends against the upper face of the top guide 33.

The roll-carrier or platen as a whole is subject to the action of a spring 10 anchored at its front end in an ear ll rising from the platen and at its rear' end secured to a similar projection on the top guide"plate 33. Thus theroll and its carrlerare urged toward the open position'. By turning down the stop screws 68,69

the rear end of the platen 45 in effect is elevated, depressing the forward portion and the roll 40 to the closed or continuous moistening position of Fig. 9. Conversely, by backing out said stop screws the spring 10 is permitted to draw down the rear end and elevate the forepart of the platen, to the open setting of Fig. 10.

With the forms either of Figs. 5 to 7 or Figs. 8 to 10 it will be understood that the manual depressing of the roll-platen, when set up for noncontinuous moistening, is available similarly as in the form of Figs. 1 to 4.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiments illustrated or described by way of example, its scope being pointed out in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a strip server, in combination with a frame, a support for a strip supply and means for advancing the strip to a delivery station, a moisture-applying element adjacent said station, a presser substantially opposite said element, a carrier for the presser movably mounted to present the presser optionally in position to effect moistening contact of the strip and moisture-applying element or in position to avoid such contact, spring means biasing the presser carrier relative to the moisture-applying element, and selective setting means opposing the spring means and efiective to dispose the presser carrier at will in one or the other of said positions.

2. Adhesive tape delivering and moistening means for tape dispensing apparatus, said means comprising in combination with a liquid reser--' voir and an applicator for the liquid therefrom, a platen above the tape path adjacent the applicator and having a fixed horizontal supporting pivot, a rotary presser on the platen, and means for variably positioning the platen vertically about its pivot thereby to set the presser in or out of tape-moistening relation-to the applicator selectively, said means comprising a spring device urging the platen upwardly and a movable elementen ageable with the platen at different vertical levels thereby to hold it, against pressure of the spring device, respectively in either of said selective relations of the presser and applicator.

3. In a strip server, in combination with a frame, a support for a strip supply and means for advancing the strip to a delivery station, a moisture-applying element adjacent said station, a presser substantially opposite said element, a carrier for the presser movably mounted to present the presser optionally in position to effect moistening contact of the strip and moistureapplying element or in a position to avoid such contact, a spring acting on the presser carrier in a given direction relative to the moisture-apply ing element, and a selectively positionable cam element engageable with the carrier to hold it in either of said positions.

4, Adhesive tape delivering and moistening means for tape dispensing apparatus, said means comprising in combination with a liquid reservoir and an applicator for the liquid therefrom, a platen above the tape path adjacent the applicator and having a fixed horizontal supporting pivot, a presser on the platen, yieldable means urging the platen upwardly about its pivot, and I rotatively adjustable means engageable with the platen thereby selectively to position the platen with its presser either in or out of tape moistening relation to the applicator.

5. Tape dispensing apparatus comprising in combination with a liquid reservoir and an applicator for the liquid therefrom, a tape presser op- .posite the applicator, a carrier for the presser movably-mounted to present the presser optionally in position to efiect moistening contact of the tape and the applicator'or in a position to avoid such contact, spring means biasing the carrier relative to the applicator, and a rotatively adjustable positioning element cooperable with the carrier to present it selectively in either of said positions at will. 7

6. Tape dispensing apparatus comprising in combination with a. liquid reservoir and an applicator for the liquid therefrom, a tape presser opposite the applicator, a. carrier for the presser movably mounted to present the presser optionally in position to efiect moistening contact of the tape and the applicator or in a position to avoid such contact, spring means urging the carrier away from the applicator, and adjustable positioning means cooperable with the carrier to set it in either of said positions optionally.

7. Tape dispensing apparatus according to claim 6 in which the adjustable positioning means comprises a post relative to which the carrier is movable between its said positions and a carrier-engaging stop member variably positionable on said post.

8. Tape dispensing apparatus according to claim 6 in which the adjustable positioning means comprises a-limiting stop movably mounted on the carrier and adapted to abut a stationary part.

ROBERT W. HOITT. 

